How to Make a Pet Shop in a Preschool Center

Use toy animals to create a pet shop center for preschoolers.

Nothing breathes life into a preschool classroom like a new center activity. Preschool children have a strong interest in animals, and a pet shop in their classroom will attract their attention. As children take turns being the customers and workers at the pet shop, preschoolers will use math, literacy and role-playing skills.

Things You'll Need

• Toy animals
• Cardboard boxes or crates
• Pet toys
• Pet dishes
• Pet snacks
• Pet accessories
• Books about pet care
• Cash register
• Play money
• Notebooks
• Pencils
• Backpacks
• Pet coloring pages and activities

Instructions

1. Bring several different species of toy animals into the center. Include cats, dogs, turtles, hamsters, snakes and any other animals typically found in a pet store. Give each animal its own cage using cardboard boxes or crates and place a food and water dish with each one.

2. Offer accessories for the store. Include other items children might find in a pet store, such as leashes, pet snacks, toys and books that explain how to take care of the animals. Place price tags on the accessories so children can shop in the pet store.

3. 

   Children will enjoy tending shop with a cash register.

   Provide a cash register and pretend money for children to work and shop. Children will enjoy pretending they are the employees or the customers as they come to the pet shop center to buy things for their favorite pet. Perpetual Preschool also suggests including paper and pencils for children to incorporate literacy skills as they make lists, write receipts or make signs for the center.

4. 

   Let children take home themed backpacks to learn about specific animals.

   Allow children to foster pets. Children will enjoy taking care of a class "pet" overnight or for the weekend. Along with one of the toy animals, fill a backpack with some age-appropriate books about that specific animal and some additional activities that children can do at home. PreKinders suggests including games such as matching, classifying and counting. Include some coloring pages for an additional activity.

Tips & Warnings

• If possible, incorporate some real animals into the pet shop center. A beta fish in a bowl, some tadpoles in an aquarium or an ant farm will give students something new to observe each day. Everything Preschool suggests inviting a pet store owner into the classroom to talk about different animals. Ask if he would be willing to bring a few animals to share with the children.

• A new center often results in arguments because all the children want to play. Limit the number of children that can be in the center at one time and set a timer to remind children to rotate.

References

• Perpetual Preschool: Dramatic Play Activities
• PreKinders: Pets Theme
• Everything Preschool: Preschool Pets Theme